Sonia Marsh's Blog, page 30

“My Gutsy Story®” Jason Matthews

Painting With Words

Sometimes one needs to walk away from stability to follow a dream. Usually it’s not easy.

I was a house painting contractor in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada. Painting houses was something I stumbled into after college while looking for work and helping my “ski buddies” with their jobs. Afterwards the phone kept ringing with more work, so much that I eventually got a contractor’s license. For twenty years painting was my main source of income, and while it wasn’t glamorous it did have a lot of perks. I set my own hours, hired friends to help and worked in beautiful Tahoe settings often on multi-million dollar properties. My body stayed fit with the physicality, and my mind enjoyed the low stress focus of simple painting tasks. The money was surprisingly lucrative, as most of the clients were wealthy second home owners from the San Francisco area who happily paid top dollar for quality work. The clientele was steady; not once did I advertise. I even took days off to ski when the snow was good or when I just didn’t feel like working. In many ways, it was an ideal career.

Jason Matthews big snow, Truckee, CA

But it wasn’t my dream. As a kid my imagination had always been active; I believed telling the stories inside my head was my destiny. I thought if I could just figure how to get those ideas out there—everything would fall into place. Over the years as I worked at the top of ladders, my mind wandered to characters and scenes that were aching to be expressed. Time passed with me enjoying the Tahoe lifestyle and my mind asking nagging questions. What if I never pursued my dream? What if nobody ever sees these stories like I see them? What can I do about it?

In 2005 I decided to take a winter off from painting and work at my computer in an effort to write a novel. It immediately felt like a lofty goal since I didn’t consider myself a writer. In fact, I wasn’t even an active reader, not having read many books beyond the required lists for school and college.

Winter turned to spring and spring to summer. My novel made progress but the story was complex, revealing itself like an onion shedding layers. The phone often rang with painting jobs. Some of the smaller ones I took for extra money, but more and more I began turning them down and living on savings.

One year of writing become two, then three and four. I drove myself crazy editing and re-editing, feeling like I had read and perfected the same book one hundred times while I queried agents and publishers, all who passed on my story. I also exhausted the money in savings, but I believed in my dream enough to take a second mortgage out on my house and live on credit. Not easy to do with a wife who wasn’t earning much and two teenage daughters to support. Soon the mortgages, monthly bills and living expenses drove me deeply in debt.

In 2009 I had a finished novel, one that made me proud. Self-publishing had made recent strides, and in desperation to avoid more rejection letters I published on Kindle and everywhere possible. A few sales came in followed by glowing reviews. I was convinced my dream would pan out and began writing what I believed was a great sequel novel.

I spent the next year working on the sequel and marketing my novel with bad ideas that drove me further in debt. My painting clients had mostly dried up, but a few jobs trickled in to provide needed cash. A decision had to be made. My options were clear: return to painting for a few years or put all my energy into writing and marketing books. Despite the needs of a family and a large debt already in place, I chose the latter.

I did everything I could find to promote my books, especially things that were online and free. It was difficult since there were so many things to learn, and I hadn’t been active on the internet. Little did I know how important blogging and social media would become. That first year felt like a non-stop effort of catching-up with online wisdom.

In 2010 I decided to spend one last small fortune on a writing conference. It was in San Francisco, held shortly after publishing my second novel. At the conference I had conversations with other writers about what we were doing for our books. Predominantly, the other writers were stuck sending query letters and getting rejected. When people asked me, I’d say, “I’m selling on Amazon and other retailers plus my own websites. I’m blogging and active with social media. I’m submitting articles, press releases, doing radio shows and interviews.” Then I mentioned everything was free and the authors would start taking notes, saying that my information was more valuable than the classes at the conference. The proverbial light-bulb went off over my head. I knew the next book would be a how-to guide for self-publishing using free online methods.

I went home invigorated. The how-to book seemed to write itself, transforming from concept to paid sales in just one month. To date, that book has sold well over ten thousand copies and ingrained me in self-publishing circles as an indie author expert.

Jason Matthews Barnes & Noble 2006 author signing

Where am I now? Still trying to sell my novels and write more. And they better sell because I can’t go back to old ways. I sold our Tahoe house to escape debt. We’ve moved to a new area. My painting clientele is gone. My friends who can paint with me are gone. It would take years to begin anew as a contractor down here, like starting over.

This tale hasn’t ended, but the bridges I’ve crossed have been burned. My dream of a writing career is going to work, or I will die trying.

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Jason Matthews Bio: Jason Matthews lives in Pismo Beach, California with his wife and daughters. He’s worked as a snow-maker, a house painting contractor and a full-time writer. He loves skiing, dogs and playing/coaching soccer. His novels include: The Little Universe,

Jim’s Life. 

His guides include: How to Make, Market And Sell Ebooks All for Free,

How to Make Your Own Free Website And Your Free Blog Too, Get On Google Front Page.

Jason’s Website: http://www.thelittleuniverse.com

You can follow Jason on Twitter: @Jason_Matthews

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Jason.M.Matthews

 Sonia Marsh Says: Jason you took a major risk and followed your passion to write. I admire your courage, especially as you have a family to take care of, and decided to “walk away” from your lucrative paint contractor business. Your hard work and perseverance is paying off, and you give so many hope that they too can find their “niche,” as long as they are determined.

“I did everything I could find to promote my books, especially things that were online and free. It was difficult since there were so many things to learn, and I hadn’t been active on the internet.”

During MAY, I shall be in Copenhagen, Paris, Orleans, and a brief stop in London. My father turns 88, and Kathy Pooler, and other memoir writers have made me realize that I want to ask him questions about my life as a child in Nigeria, as well as his life in a camp outside Paris, as a 15-year-old boy during WWII.

Meanwhile, please submit your “My Gutsy Story®” which will continue in June.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by Win Charles, Carol Bodensteiner, and Linda Kovic-Skow.

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th for your favorite April 

“My Gutsy Story®” .

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

“My Gutsy Story®” Trademark is official

The “My Gutsy Story®” trademark became officially registered with the United States Trademark office on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.

I wish to thank all the wonderful authors who have submitted their “My Gutsy Story®” since I started this contest in October 2011, and the 65 authors who signed contracts and wish to be included in the anthology.

Our very first author to submit was Rhonda Hayes. I shall never forget her heartbreaking  story with its unexpected twist, and amazing ending. It received 50 comments and from then on, these inspiring stories have continued to help all of us realize we all belong to one global community.

I am working with two wonderful ladies, Michele DeFilippo and Ronda Rawlins from 1106 Design-yes the same company that did my Freeways to Flip-Flops, book cover and interior formatting-to design the cover of the:

My Gutsy Story® Anthology: True Stories of Love, Courage and Adventure From Around the World.

The book will be launched in September 2013, and I shall keep all of you updated as we move along.

Sonia’s News: (GOLD MEDAL AWARD-see below)

During the month of May, I shall be in Copenhagen, Paris and a brief stop in London. Posts and photos will be from Europe. Please let me know what would interest you.
Now is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” New stories will start in June. (See information below)
My memoir Freeways to Flip-Flops: A Family’s Year of Gutsy Living on a Tropical Island, received 1st Place, and a Gold Medal in the “Autobiography/Memoir” category of the 2012 E-lit Awards. It also received a Silver Medal, in the “Travel Essay” category of the E-lit Awards.

“The fourth annual eLit Awards are a global awards program committed to illuminating and honoring the very best of English language digital publishing entertainment.”

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by Win Charles,  Carol Bodensteiner and Linda Kovic-Skow

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

 

“My Gutsy Story®” Linda Kovic-Skow

French Illusions: My Story as an American Au Pair in the Loire Valley

( Prologue)

 One week after placing my ad for a French teacher in the local newspaper, I met Rob at a local café.

“Linda, your plan may backfire,” he warned, furrowing his brow.

My eyes searched his face. “I guess I’ll take that chance.”

“All right then, I’ll help you.”

Most lies are told with the expectation that no one will uncover them. In the summer of 1979, I told a monumental lie, fully aware that mine would be discovered.

I was twenty-one and working as a medical assistant for a busy family practice clinic in Seattle. Every morning at seven o’clock, I dragged myself to the office and performed the same mundane tasks—answering phones, scheduling appointments, and escorting patients to examining rooms.

My roommate’s burgeoning career presented a dazzling contrast to my dull job. Carline, an aspiring model, returned home from auditions bubbling over with enthusiasm as her glamorous vocation took off. Dressed in stylish clothes, she dashed in and out of our apartment from one appointment to another.

Cindy, my other close friend, seemed poised for stardom. She took to the stage, blowing audiences away with her strong voice and artistic abilities, her years of hard work finally paying off.

Months passed and I grew increasingly disenchanted with my career.

“That’s it. I’ve had enough,” I mumbled, frowning at my reflection in the mirror. “I’m finding a new job.”

Intrigued with the notion of overseas travel, I researched my options and decided to pursue a flight attendant position with an international airline. I imagined myself on sojourns in cities around the globe, meeting fascinating people and living life to its fullest.

My resume landed me an interview with World Airways, Inc.  and three weeks later I flew to California for the event. The panel of two women and two men voiced their approval as I answered a battery of questions, but their smiles vanished when they discovered I didn’t speak a second language.

“I’m sorry, Miss Kovic, but World Airways requires all flight attendants to be bilingual.” The interviewer’s words struck like daggers in my heart. “However, if you learn another language, we might consider you for a position in the future.”

“Which one would you recommend?” I held his gaze to emphasize my sincerity.

“Spanish, French, or German.”

“Thank you.” I replied, rolling back my shoulders as I left the room, already contemplating my next move.

French appealed to me more than the other languages because I loved the way it sounded, and total immersion seemed the best way to become fluent in the shortest amount of time. Once I learned the language, I would return home and reapply for a flight attendant position with World Airways. But where would I get the money? I only had a few hundred dollars in my bank account.

A coworker came up with a remarkably simple solution. “Maybe you can become an au pair for a family in France?”

Linda Kovic as a young woman

Unsure what this would entail, I wrote to several agencies and received applications along with informational brochures detailing the job expectations. My primary responsibility would be childcare, twenty-five to thirty hours a week, along with some light housework and cooking. In return, I would have my own bedroom, a small allowance, and one day off per week. One brochure boasted “the au pair becomes almost like a member of the family as he or she is immersed in a new cultural experience. Often both parties remember the experience fondly for the rest of their lives.”

Reading on, I discovered a colossal problem. All the agencies required prospective au pairs to have familiarity with the language, conversational French at the very least.

How will I get around this, I thought. Maybe I could fill out the applications as though I spoke French. I would hire a private tutor and learn some common phrases before I left. Once I arrived in France, I would somehow persuade my host family to allow me to stay.

Aware that the hoax would upset my parents, I kept this element of my plan a secret, confiding in only a few of my closest friends. Both Carline and Cindy questioned my judgment on more than one occasion, but I dismissed their concerns. I had set my mind to go.

With Rob’s help, I completed four applications. A month later, one of the agencies replied detailing a possible match. The response read like this:

We have found you a host family living in a real-life castle in a small town called Songais within the Loire region of France. Monsieur and Madame Dubois have two children, with another one expected very soon. They are excited to welcome their first American au pair and they are especially impressed with how well you write and speak French. How soon can you make the trip to France? Can you stay for a full year?

The Dubois family sounded perfect, but a shudder ran through my body as I formed my next thought. I hope they’ll forgive me when they learn that I lied.

Pulse jumping with anticipation, I wrote back, agreeing to all their terms, with an expected arrival date in August. I purchased my ticket, sublet my apartment and gave notice to my employer.

Three weeks later, captivated by French illusions, I boarded a plane for Europe.

***

Please connect with Linda on her website, become a fan on her Facebook Page,  and join her on Twitter @LindaKovicSkow

A great book trailer for French Illusions.

Linda Kovic-Skow resides in Gilbert, Arizona. She earned an Associate Degree in Medical Assisting in 1978 from North Seattle Community College and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Seattle University in 1985. She has been married for 27 years and has two daughters. An enthusiastic traveler, Linda also enjoys boating, gardening and socializing with friends. French Illusions,  her debut memoir, is the culmination of a three-year project.  

 

 Sonia Marsh Says: What an exciting “gutsy” thing to do. You took a risk and it paid off. Now I want to read french Illusions to see how you handled your “lack of” French, and how Mr. and Mme. Dubois treated you. Can’t wait.

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Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by Win Charles, and Carol Bodensteiner.

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

 

How Does an Author Find Readers and Turn Them into Fans?

As an author, you want to create an audience of readers or shall I say, “fans.”

How do you do this?

Let’s look at one person who is a genius, and has created a huge tribe of fans: Chris Guillebeau. 

In my opinion Chris is likeable, down-to-earth, approachable, giving, innovative, extremely interesting and he’s tapped into a dream that so many of us have: to leave our cubicle job and follow something we’re passionate about.  Carol Bodensteiner did that as well.

So how can you find readers and turn them into your fans? I believe there are many ways you can do this:

Through your core message, and your personality. What is the main thing you want people to know about you?
Can you help your fans in one way or another? As an author, does your story motivate people, inspire them to change, or give them step-by-step tips on a specific topic?
Does your blog offer some “killer” content your fans are dying to read?
Ask your fans to sign your guest book during your book events.
Collect e-mails when fans sign up for the raffle.
Ask fans to “like”   your Facebook page.
Start connecting with your Twitter fans.
Connect with your fans on LinkedIn.
Meet real people through networking, not  just online fans.
Your Book Club events.
Your Library events.
Your Meetup Group events.
The Clubs you speak at like: Rotary clubs, women’s clubs, writers’ clubs etc.
Through giving a FREE GIFT and asking people to subscribe in exchange.

But here’s the dilemma. What do your readers, fans, subscribers want to know?

When I read newsletters, many of them are requests to sign up for a webinar or a course, which I have to pay for, and how I’ll miss out big time, if I don’t.

So how do you make your newsletter fresh, exciting and different? Should you include the usual:

Links to recent blog posts
Lists of your upcoming events or workshops
Photos of you at your events
Other books you’re working on
Your videos and podcasts

Do your readers want:

Something new and different or the same?

Most of us receive tons of e-mails, newsletters, requests, etc., and

I believe readers want to know something about the author, his/her life, writing, goals, travels etc. 

So why not ask your readers directly?

What do you want to know about me?

I’ve collected e-mail addresses for months, but have not plucked up the courage to send out a newsletter. My dilemma is what to put in a newsletter that one of my kind fans signed up for?

I shall give a free copy of my book to anyone who asks me an interesting question with links back to them in an upcoming newsletter.

You can either ask your question in the comment section below, or e-mail me at sonia@soniamarsh.com. Thanks so much and please comment on your own experiences with newsletters you write or receive.

 ***

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our April 2013 stories by Win Charles, and Carol Bodensteiner.

Voting starts on May 2nd-May 15th.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

 

 

“My Gutsy Story®” Carol Bodensteiner

“Giving Up Everything to Find What Matters”

I spent 15 years trying to quit my job. At least that’s what my husband tells me.

He says that in October 1985, on our first date, as we both tried to politely avoid eating more than our fair share of a bubbling square of flaming cheese at the local Greek restaurant, I told him I was thinking about leaving the agency where I’d worked for the past six years. According to him, I didn’t know where I’d go, only that I wouldn’t be working in the public relations business all that much longer.

Truthfully, I don’t remember that conversation. Guess I was too focused on getting my share of the cheese.  Long before anyone pointed out the significance of moving someone’s cheese.

By an accident of circumstances, I’d fallen into a career perfectly suited for me. One where the clients and jobs changed so rapidly there was no time to get bored. One where every day the smart people I worked with challenged me to do my best and solve big problems.  One where the work gave me a huge adrenaline rush.

When my husband and I had that first date, I was on the fast track and working hard to stay there. I’d just been promoted to account supervisor at one of the Midwest’s largest business-to-business advertising and public relations agencies. I’d recently returned from a six-week workshop at our headquarters in New York, where I’d hobnobbed with the up-and-coming leaders of a worldwide agency.

A decade later, I was president of the public relations division, a principal of the firm, with a solid reputation as a client counselor and staff mentor.  My future was bright. I was the go-to person and I had the job I’d always dreamed about.

And, after years of having no time to think of anything but the task at hand, of living with a perpetual headache, I was completely burned out.

But how do you walk away from the top of the heap, when you’re only 51? How do you give up the title, the prestige, the paycheck? What person in their right mind would do that?

I probed my career concerns with colleagues, clients and friends, and the money issues with my husband.

Why keep doing these jobs if they’re unsatisfying? I asked a colleague one day. His answer – Because we’re good at it.  I found his answer equally unsatisfying.

When I posed the same question to the head of the advertising division, his answer – Because our work gives a lot of others good lives – felt more worthy. But still not enough to keep me going.

Perhaps the largest question was at the core of my anxiety: What would people think? Not only was I in the business of managing perception for clients, I’d also spent my own life being what people expected, exceeding what people expected.

One day over lunch, I asked my client, the first female CEO of a major bank, what she’d say if she saw me working as a clerk in a garden supply store (because having some money is actually a necessary thing). She laughed and said, I’d ask if you could get me a job! Apparently I wasn’t the only one wondering if being on top was worth it!

Were the title, the prestige, the paycheck really me? Or was I something else? The more I agonized, the more dissatisfied I became. Finally, I realized I could pick apart the problem forever and get nowhere closer to certainty, not while the job required 120% every day.

I walked into my boss’s office and quit. He countered with a sabbatical. Unbelievably, I agreed.

During the next five months, I spent most of my time talking with my parents about their lives. The more I talked to them, the more I remembered my own childhood and rediscovered the values that shaped me. The stories I wrote during those months were the genesis of a memoir of my childhood published in 2008: Growing Up Country: Memories of an Iowa Farm Girl. The creativity was positively gushing out of me. I felt great!

At the end of the sabbatical, I walked back into my office and three things happened. 1) The gushing stream of ideas stopped as though someone had turned off a faucet.  2) I developed sciatica. 3) I came down with shingles.

But did I walk right back out? No. Even in the face of all that, I continued to work for another year. At last, on May 1, 1999, I left for good. No job. No title. No paycheck. My only certainty was that it was better to do nothing at all than to stay in a job that didn’t nurture my soul.

I’ve never regretted walking away.

A few observations to offer from my experience.

People often say, I wish I could do what you did. I respond, You can. It’s a matter of priorities. My priorities were my time and my health. No amount of money or prestige was an adequate tradeoff.

If you’re satisfied doing what you do, keep on. If you’re dissatisfied, change the job. Or change your attitude. Or leave. It’s more important to be satisfied than to be successful. Or maybe the fact is that if you are satisfied, you will be successful—on your own terms.

The answers to our individual needs are inside us if we listen. I’ve found that to be true with CEOs I’ve counseled. They almost always know what they should do; they just need someone help them reason it out. My answers were inside of me, too. When years of rational thought went unheeded, my body sent me a physical message. Finally I listened.

Though I sometimes groan remembering that I let my boss talk me into that sabbatical, I have to acknowledge what a gift those months ultimately were. During that leave, I had time to spend with family and friends. Time to turn on the faucet and begin to slake my thirst for writing. Time to discover what was really important to me.

Carol Bodensteiner – Bio

Carol Bodensteiner is a writer who finds inspiration in the places, people, culture and history of the Midwest. After a successful career in public relations consulting, she turned to creative writing. She published her memoir GROWING UP COUNTRY in 2008.

She’s working on her first novel, historical fiction set during World War I.  Carol writes regularly for The Iowan magazine www.iowan.com and blogs about writing, her prairie, gardening, and whatever in life interests her at the moment at www.carolbodensteiner.com.  Carol’s twitter handle is: @CABodensteiner. Join Carol on LinkedIn , and Facebook.

Growing Up Country: Memories of an Iowa Farm Girl is available in paperback and e-book forms from: Amazon

Sonia Marsh Says: I love this phrase, and shall keep it in mind when I speak about “Gutsy Living.”

“It’s more important to be satisfied than to be successful.”

I also agree with you that sometimes we need to “step away” to get things into perspective and back on track in our lives. You did this with your sabbatical, just as my family did by moving to Belize.

***

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our first April 2013 story by and our second by Win Charles.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Winner of March 2013 “My Gutsy Story®”

Bonnie Kassel WINNER

Congratulations to Bonnie Kassel for getting 78 votes and winning first place for her story of adventure about Crossing the Sahara in a VW Bug.

In 2nd Place, we have the wonderful story from Dorit Sasson who through her writing, and helping others, is helping people look for a deeper social and emotional connection with others.

Dorit Sasson

In 3rd Place, we have  Linda Lochridge Heonisberg, with her incredible story of courage and determination in overcoming so many obstacles in her life.

Linda Hoenisberg

In 4th place, Owen Jones shared his intriguing “spy” story of the Russian Dissident and him. He continues to be “gutsy” and now lives in a small vilage in northern Thailand.

Thank you so much to all four of you. You are all winners and have some wonderful stories and books you’ve written to share with everyone.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

Please read and share our first April 2013 story by and our second by Win Charles.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

“My Gutsy Story®” Win Charles

My Gutsy Living story

The gutsiest thing I have ever done was to write my biography at the age of twenty-four. I did this as a form of grief therapy after losing my mom a few years back.

When I decided to write my biography people thought I was absolutely insane; they never thought it would get published.

The reason I wrote my biography, was not only to leave a legacy as to how wonderful my parents have been throughout my life, but also because I was sick and tired of the misconceptions about cerebral palsy.

I wrote I,Win for myself, and now I,Win has turned into a small, kind Monster that I cannot control.

I seem to be doing interviews about why I wrote my book every day, and my goal is to help people understand the misconceptions they may have about cerebral palsy.

At the age of twenty-four, I decided to tell my story. Writing this autobiography gave me the opportunity to pay tribute to my family members who are passionate about life, and who have instilled this passion within me.

My parents’ extraordinary support, encouragement, and pure love were my foundation as I navigated life, overcame obstacles, and achieved successes as a young woman with cerebral palsy.

I wish to pay full tribute to my mother, who died in August 2010. Through her, I learned to listen to my own voice as a guide in making life choices, and to always expect the best from myself.

My hope is that my book, I Win, will provide insight into the extraordinary possibilities of those who live with disabilities. I also hope that those without disabilities– instead of focusing on our differences – will come to understand what we all have in common.

This book is for my mom, with love.

Win Charles Bio:  My name is Win Charles. In 1987 I was born in Aspen, CO where I continue to live. I am a self-taught artist and became interested in doing artwork as a way to cope with having cerebral palsy. My inspiration for my artwork is life in general as well as roses, orchids and the flora and fauna of the Bahamas; I always had a life long admiration for the Bahamian Islands and it’s people and the flora and fauna of the Bahamian Islands.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/wcharles
http://authorwincharles.com/
“I’m a disabled woman, living a non disabled life”~ Win C

You can follow Win on Facebook, and on Twitter @iwinbook

Here is Win’s Video.

 Sonia Marsh Says: Your energy and passion shines through and your message of “I have cerebral palsy; please focus on what we have in common, not on my disability,” needs to be heard, and will be heard through all your work.

Please ask questions and leave comments for Win Charles below.

***

Please VOTE for your favorite March “My Gutsy Story®” Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Anthology Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Our first “My Gutsy Story®” for April 3013, is by It’s a very moving story about his wife Julia.

 

Should Authors Respond To Amazon Reviewers?

Kim from Bank of Books in Malibu, CA reviewed my book

Why do we respond to people who leave comments on our blogs, and yet we ignore comments from our readers on Amazon? Isn’t this exactly the opposite of what social media is all about?

It’s all about connections and forming relationships.

So why do we ignore our readers, those who spend precious hours, days and months reading and reviewing our books? This makes no sense to me.

Some of the reviews I’ve received on Amazon are better than any synopsis I could have written myself. The language, descriptions and summaries target the message and essence of my memoir in such a way that I’m envious of the reviewer.

“Why couldn’t I write that?” I ask myself.

I’ve heard editors say that it’s easier to have someone else write your synopsis for you, and after reading most of my reviews, I agree.

Why aren’t we putting in the effort to connect with our readers?
Should we simply ignore them?

Bonnie Kassel  a “My Gutsy Story®,” contributor introduced me to Ionia Martin, one of the top 500 Amazon reviewers. I contacted her and she not only gave me an amazing 5 star review on Amazon, but also wrote about Freeways to Flip-Flops on her blog which I am so grateful for.

Ionia Martin is a book reviewer, mother of four and a Ph.D. student in the field of brain and cognitive Science. She has a passion for books, music and photography. When she doesn’t have her nose buried in a book, she likes to spend time working on her charity, dedicated to animal welfare, which should be in full operation late this year. You can find her at http://readfulthingsblog.com or at Twitter via @readfulthings

I asked her a few questions about whether or not to respond to reviewers and she mentioned there are varied opinions about whether or not an author should respond to comments at all.

The main reason why authors don’t respond is that they’re afraid:

I might look too “indie” if I respond to my Amazon reviewers.

But Ionia said that many big name authors respond to her reviews, and that simple variations on comments such as : ” thank you so much for taking the time to read my work,” show that you value the readers’ time.

Be polite, even to those who leave negative comments, and don’t say too much.

I think it boils down to “connecting” with your readers and as we know with blogging, the more comments, the better.

So from now on, I’ve decided to respond to my reviewers on Amazon. How far back should I go? Not sure, but I shall start slowly and see what happens.

What about you?

Please VOTE for your favorite March “My Gutsy Story®” Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Anthology Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Our first “My Gutsy Story®” for April 3013, is by It’s a very moving story about his wife Julia.

“My Gutsy Story®” David Prosser

“In honor of Julia Prosser”

I start with the confession that this gutsy story is not really mine. But, since convention has it that marital (should that be martial?) goods are shared, I’m taking it upon myself to write this.

I was taken ill in about 2008, and my beautiful wife became my caretaker and my rock. In 2010, to please her, I started writing a chapter a night of a book, My Barsetshire Diary, which a friend insisted should be published. It was, with the following results: The cat, who made the odd appearance, got his own blog, and I started writing two further books, which kept Julia entertained and the cat in food.

In July 2011 Julia felt a tenderness in her stomach. We arranged a doctor’s appointment just before her father died. My wife was distraught when she went for tests the next week, then saw the doctor the day after her father’s funeral. From the little said at the hospital we anticipated bad news–but even so, the diagnosis of cancer hit hard.

An oncologist told us Julia had pancreatic cancer and that it was inoperable because it had grown around some major arteries. She was stoic about it, but even so you could see when the pain was bad and the drugs weren’t helping. We were given a prognosis of six to nine months, and I won’t try and describe how Julia, I or our daughter felt, as none of us could talk.

One bright spot emerged when an eminent surgeon at another hospital offered to perform a radical procedure to cut the nerves where the growth was sited in order to kill the pain. Brilliant, except it almost killed her. She was placed on an open ward to recover and was discharged the next day with a raging temperature and ill from every orifice. We all recovered.

In 2012 the pain started to reappear as the thing grew. Julia focused on raising money to build riding facilities for the disabled at a local stable. A keen horsewoman despite her arthritis, she knew the benefits of horse-related therapy and believed that having a stable in our area was important. I was happy to help. After a suggestion from me, Julia decided to try and write a book about cancer and how it did not define her as a person now. She called it She self-published it through Lulu.com, and it’s available on Amazon sites. In September we celebrated our daughter Yvonne’s wedding, brought forward for Julia’s sake–though that was hotly denied.

In December we celebrated Christmas  with Yvonne (hereinafter known as the party of the third part because despite what she says I’m sure she likes to party) and her new husband, Ugo. They presented us with a small box. When I opened it, I unfolded a tiny bib with the words “I love my Nanna and Pops.” I know the room was hot because my eyeballs sweated just then as I asked, “Honestly?” They confirmed that the baby is due in August, thus giving us a new target to aim for.

In January we celebrated the fact that we’d gone beyond the original prognosis and the pain was back under control with morphine (which apparently doesn’t qualify under the 50% each agreement- typical.). And Julia did a little riding, even winning a small dressage competition.

At the beginning of March we saw the oncologist because Julia’s stomach was very distended and I refused to be named the father. He told us it was the illness and asked if she’d go into a hospice for a week. She loved it there because she could see horses from the window and various wildlife (no, not me) came by her patio door. While there, we were told to think in terms of weeks, not months. Julia had always asked for honesty, but I just wanted to shout “Liar, liar, pants on fire” and stick my finger in someone’s eye, even my own. Yvonne cried. Our nieces rallied round as always, and our nephews came to see her. Always the same message: “I’m not ready to go yet, so don’t write me off.”

Since she came home we’ve visited our favorite cafes to say her goodbyes in case something happens. There have been some tears, usually mine, because I’m really going to miss those places. One team brought Julia a wonderful bouquet of flowers and two plates of their special spaghetti Bolognese that she loves. Another is raffling off a giant teddy bear to help raise money toward the stable. We even managed to visit the stable last week; building is under way and will be finished in about two weeks. Now we need to raise money for a scissor lift or hoist to get the riders up to the right level.

This week Julia went riding herself, putting an amazingly brave face on things. She even decided to enter another competition in two weeks’ time.

My wife is amazing.

(Edited by Eve Gumpel.)

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David Prosser  sent me his story on March 14th, and I’m sorry to announce that his beautiful wife, Julia, passed away on March 30th, 2013. Here is David’s beautiful post about Julia called, “The End of Days.”

R.I.P Julia Prosser 15.07.1956 – 30.03.2013

David Prosser Bio: A retired ex Local Government Officer with a horse mad wife, a sadistic cat who acts as my alarm clock at the time he wants me to get up, and a daughter who must be wonderful because she thinks her dad is. I live in a small village in North Wales and became an author almost by accident when a friend liked a day’s diary I sent her in answer to a ‘How was your day”? query. Needless to say the day was a fiction from start to finish.

Here are links to David Prosser’s websites and his books:

http;//barsetshirediaries.wordpress.com

http://LordDavidsPage.weebly.com

You can also connect with David on Twitter: @ davidmfprosser
and Facebook.
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Please VOTE for your favorite March “My Gutsy Story®” Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Anthology Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Vote For Your Favorite March 2013 “My Gutsy Story®”

Can you believe it’s already time to VOTE for your Favorite March “My Gutsy Story®?”

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right underneath the Anthology Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

Our first author is Bonnie Kassell.

Bonnie shares her “Gutsy” adventure as a young woman driving through the the Sahara desert and says, “Only when I was older did I realize how deeply I was marked by my travels and how everything I am and do grows from them.”

Our second author is Owen Jones.

Owen has an intriguing “spy” story about a Russian dissident and him. His life seems to be full of “gutsy” adventures, as he now lives in a small village in northern Thailand.

Our third author is Linda Lochridge Hoenisberg.

Linda has conquered so many obstacles in her life from grief, to divorce to single motherhood and a brain tumor. An amazing  “My Gutsy Story®.”

Our fourth author is Dorit Sasson

Dorit shares how journaling and writing has helped her cope with social and emotional isolation.

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If you have a second, please click on my “Ticket to Give”  so I can travel back to Central America and give TOMS shoes to poor kids in need. See more about it here.

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 Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®.” Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here